The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-09-22


there seemed to be 40 unjnst dis
crimination and the people pet about
TO remedy it, and the manner oi
which we now wish to show and the
effect IL has produced. In 1851 an
amendment to the Constitution was
voted upon, also in 1874. to license
the liqnor business and allow the
legislature to fix by law the amount
they should be taxed and the certain
funds to which said taxes should he
applied. In both attempts tho
amendments were defeated. In the
former by a vote of 1929 against
and lO4 255 for it, the majority be~
ing S, 1882. ln 1874 the vote stood
1883 against and I72,252 for liz
cense, the adverse majority being
1886. In ench case the liquor men
and the Pronibitionists joined hands,
each putting into the fight all their
might and means to defeat the mea-
sure. The Probihitionists claimed
that license legalzod the business,
and as they said, made it respectable.
The saloon men said wo don't want
any license, for license conts money
aud why should we pay ont our
money when We can sell it unmo-
Tested under The present law. SO it
was and SO it remained until 1888.
On April 18th, 1888, a law was pass
ed called after its founder the
"Scott" law, taxing the liquor husi-
ness each $4,000, whore whiekey
aud beer was both sold. $4,000
where they sold beer only, The
next year this was the leading fea-
ture 10 the campaign; tho Republi-
cans defending, while the Democrats
and Prohibitionists opened their
broadsides against it Tho Demo
Gratis succeeded in making the Ger
man Republicans believe that the
law was calculated to deprive them
of their personal liberties, and with
the support of every saloon iu the
State. With the assistance of their
allies, the Probibi,ienista, they sue
ceeded 10 defeating the Republican
ticket and electing majority Of the
Supreme Court Judges. The DEM
ocrats promised tue saloon element
that should they succeed, the scott
law wonld be declared unconstitu-
tional and they would get back their
money already paid under the law.
\ promise they only partially fulfill
ed A case was immedi tely brought
and taken to the Supreme Court and
on October IS. 1884, it was declared
unconstitutional. But by this time
a reaction had taken place in the
sentiment of the people. They be-
gan to see that the law was calcuat-
cd to remedy the evil and bring into
their treasury the means OF supports
ing class of paupers they were in
strumental in making. The German
Republicans like the "Prodigal Son"
came back when they saw they were
being used only for the purpose of
placing the Democratic party in
power, and the saloons lost conf
dence, for, after declaring the law
unconstitutional they refused to re-
turn the money to them.
The people having taste Of the
benefits Of law to regulate and tax
the saloon business, and that in the
short time it was in force, lS months,
| it had reduced the number OF the
saloons in the State to less than one.
half and from the balance collected
a tax sufficient 10 enable towns and
cities TO increase their police force
and at better pay, to maintain their
municipal corporations, besides fur
nishing certain amount, abont one-
fourth, to the support of the county
poor. Corporations aud townships
were enabled to reduce their levies
just in proportion to the amount
collected from the saloons then run.
ming. This law also had e "Local
Option" clause, giving towns and
corporations the privilege, by vote,
whether or not they wanted saloons
to rsnain in their midst, and numert
ous were the towns that took advan-
tage OF and adopted measures to that
effect. As we said the people be-
came dissatisfied with the decision
OF the Supreme Court, for it was
looked upon as decision for parts
zan purposes, and it again entered
the political field in 1885 with pow
or and effect by tho Republican parS